AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

* CHINA'S ETHNIC TINDERBOX

* GROWING CHURCH FACES PERSECUTION IN IRAN

* CHURCH IN SOMALIA GROWS DESPITE TURMOIL

* NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-IL BELIEVED TO HAVE CANCER

* CHRISTIAN WOMAN JAILED FOR SMUGGLING IN NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES

* CHINA'S ONE CHILD POLICY BEGINS TO WEAKEN

CHINA'S ETHNIC TINDERBOX

The recent ethnic riots have shattered the myth of a monolithic China. Foreigners typically picture China’s population as a vast homogeneous Han majority with a sprinkling of exotic minorities living along its borders. This understates China’s tremendous cultural, geographic, and linguistic diversity - in particular the important cultural differences within the Han population. More importantly, recent events suggest that China may well be increasingly insecure regarding not only these minorities, but also its own national integration.

The early departure of President Hu Jintao from the G8 meetings in Italy to attend to the ethnic problems in China is an indication of the seriousness with which he regards the issue. China is seeing a resurgence of local ethnicity and culture, most notably in the south. China has long held together a vast multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation despite alternating periods of political centralization and fragmentation. But cultural cleavages could worsen in a China weakened by internal strife, economic downturn, uneven growth, or a struggle over future political succession.

The initial brawl between workers in a Guangdong toy factory, which left at least two Uighur dead on 25 June, prompted the mass unrest in Xinjiang on 5 July, which ended with 156 dead, thousands injured, and 1500 arrested, with on-going violence spreading throughout the region. The National Day celebrations scheduled for October 2009, seeks to highlight 60 years of the “harmonious” leadership of the Communist Party in China, and like the 2008 Olympics, its enormous success. The rioting threatens to de-rail these celebrations.

China is made up of 56 nationalities: one majority nationality, the Han, and 55 minority groups. The 2000 census revealed a total official minority population of nearly 104m, or 9% of the total population. The peoples identified as Han comprise 91% of the population. An active state-sponsored programme assists the official minority cultures and promotes their economic development. The recognition of minorities helps the Communists achieve their long-term goal of forging a united Chinese nation by solidifying the recognition of the Han as the “majority”.

The Communists have pushed the Han in the forefront of development and civilization. The more “backward” or “primitive” the minorities were, the more “advanced” and “civilized” the so-called Han seemed. China’s policy toward minorities involves official recognition, limited autonomy, and unofficial efforts at control. Although totalling only 9% of the population, the minorities are concentrated in resource-rich areas spanning nearly 60% of the country’s landmass, and exceed 90% of the population in counties and villages along many sensitive border areas.

It has become popular to be “ethnic” in today’s China. Mongolian hot pot, Muslim noodle, and Korean barbecue restaurants proliferate in every city, while minority clothing, artistic motifs, and cultural styles adorn. While ethnic separatism on its own will never be a serious threat to a strong China, a China weakened by internal strife, inflation, uneven economic growth, or the struggle for political succession could become further divided along cultural and linguistic lines.

China’s threats will most likely come from civil and possible ethnic unrest from within the so-called Han majority. It was a southerner, born and educated abroad, who led the revolution that ended China’s last dynasty. Moreover, the Taiping Rebellion that nearly brought down the Qing dynasty also had its origins in the southern region of Guangxi among the marginal Yao and Hakka peoples. These events are being remembered as the well-hidden and overlooked “others” within Chinese society begin to reassert their own identities.

Source: Intercessors Network

GROWING CHURCH FACES PERSECUTION IN IRAN

Iran’s top legislative body, the Guardian Council, has confirmed that incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the contested June 12 presidential election. The decision followed a recount of ten percent of the votes. Protests erupted in Iran after claims that the election was rigged. “Right now, we are seeing the outcome of what we understood for a long time to be the case, that about 70 percent of the Iranian population are dissatisfied with the Iranian state and would advocate for more freedom, with the separation of state and religion,” said Carl Moeller of Open Doors USA.

The instability has not put a stop to Open Doors’ work in Iran. Open Doors still provides Bibles, Christian literature, discipleship training, television programs, and satellite broadcasting for Iranian Christians. “We are still maintaining call centres that are masked and secretly routed from Iran to Farsi-speaking operators in the free world, so those types of things continue to go on, and those types of discipleship and Church-building activities will be taking place despite the political upheavals that are going on,” Moeller said.

Iranians have been opening up to the Gospel, and a quiet Christian revival is sweeping the nation. “We are seeing all across Iran a religious revival because Iranians are suffering from deep spiritual emptiness,” Moeller explained. “The social problems and difficulties of living under a totalitarian regime have created a desire on the part of the average Iranian to find real peace in their heart. And this peace is being found through Jesus Christ. Tens of thousands of people are coming to faith in Jesus Christ and finding in Him the real answers to the problems that they have.

”Now the election crisis is over Christians expect the government to crack down on religious freedom. Restrictions on internet and cell phone use are only the beginning of the coming repression. “The biggest problem that we see with the current protests is that right now, this has evolved into a political struggle between two elements that are both totalitarian and repressive. It isn’t a case of freedom versus totalitarianism any more,” Moeller explained. “So regardless of the outcome, we believe that there will be increasing pressure on the church there.”

Nevertheless, Iranian Christians are not about to give up their new-found faith. “People are willing to pay a price of their faith because it actually does provide the deepest answers to the longing they have in their heart,” Moeller said. “New Christians often tell their family members, friends and neighbours about Jesus.” One Iranian became a Christian while attending school in Scandinavia. Within a month of returning home, he had introduced 50 of his family members to salvation through Jesus Christ. After a year, their home church had grown to include 250 members.

Another man stole a pastor’s satellite dish. When he turned on the satellite dish, it was set to Christian programming. As a result of hearing the Gospel, the thief received Christ. He then told his friends about Christ, many of whom were also involved in criminal activity. Twelve people now attend a house church begun by these new believers. There is fear and as we’ve seen so graphically shown on our television screens, the force of this regime is severe. But these Christians are willing to face that cost. And many have done so at the cost of their lives, or their families.”

Source: Intercessors Network

CHURCH IN SOMALIA GROWS DESPITE TURMOIL

The country of Somalia is in a dire state. The terrorist group Al Shabaab, linked with al Qaeda, wants to overthrow the government there and become the most extreme version of Islam. “Politically, it’s still just an absolute vacuum. Anything that goes into Somalia, whether it’s human aid or relief supplies or some attempt to provoke stability, just seems to get sucked up in chaos. And in today’s reality, Christians are bearing the brunt of that,” said Carl Moeller, president and CEO of Open Doors USA.

For the church, this has created intense persecution as many of the Christians in the areas, especially those from a Muslim background, take the brunt of this violence. On July 10, members of al Shabaab beheaded seven Christian men. Just ten days later, they also hunted down another Christian and killed him by firing squad. Sadly, the situation does not look like it will turn itself around in the near future. In fact, Moeller said, “It is the definition of a failed state. It’s almost impossible to envision Somalia returning to any sort of national normalcy in the next decade or more.”

Unfortunately, it seems al Shabaab and the other extreme groups in the area are the ones making progress. Yet, “At the same time, the church is expanding, and the church, because of the reality of Jesus Christ, is providing a measure of hope for some who are turning from Islam to Christ,” Moeller said. Because of this extreme tension, Moeller said it is vital for Christian organizations to recognize this strategic area of Africa and the danger of it becoming controlled by extremists and take appropriate action.

The role of Christians around the world should be to support these Christians. Even though the situation looks hopeless, Moeller said there is an upside. “When the church is growing and the Holy Spirit is moving, the enemy is moving against it,” he said. “When persecution comes, it is a sign that the church is growing, the church is strengthening, and it is becoming a target of the enemy.” Moeller then challenged Christians to do their part by praying fervently for the church in Somalia to continue to grow, be strengthened and encouraged.

Source: Open Doors USA

NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-IL BELIEVED TO HAVE CANCER

South Korean sources are reporting that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has pancreatic cancer, while a leading dissident said North Koreans are fleeing the country amid severe food shortages. The ailing leader has made just two public appearances since reportedly suffering a stroke last August. Most recently Kim was shown on the country’s Central Television on July 8 looking gaunt at a ceremony in Pyongyang to mark the death of his father, Kim Il-sung. According to Japanese television reports he is receiving treatment at his home.

Meanwhile, a prominent North Korean defector and one of the leaders of the Committee for the Democratization of North Korea, told Japanese media that about 300,000 soldiers had been deployed along the border with China toprevent a mass exodus of North Koreans to China due to a severe food shortage in the impoverished communist country. According to a UN report on North Korea last year, at least 9 million people, or about one third of the population are in desperate need of food aid.

Despite being in dire economic straits, the North has withdrawn from six-nation nuclear talks, also involving the United States, Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea, that could have resulted in substantial economic and food aid to the communist nation. North Koreans are now facing two options - either to flee the country or face the threat of starvation, Kang Cheol-Hwan said. He urged Japan, the U.S. and South Korea to apply pressure on China not to deport North Koreans crossing the border as the mass exodus could lead to the fall of the current communist regime.

The 67-year-old North Korean leader is expected to hand over power to his youngest son Kim Jong-un. Kim Jong-un, now 25, was born to Kim Jong-il’s third wife, Ko Yong-hi, who died of breast cancer at the age of 51 in 2004. According to Yonhap, the youngest of Kim’s three sons, Jong-un was educated at the International School of Berne and is a fan of NBA basketball.

Source: Intercessors Network

CHRISTIAN WOMAN JAILED FOR SMUGGLING IN NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES

Lawyers representing a Christian woman detained for smuggling North Korean refugees into China hope to strike a blow for refugees’ rights. Li Mingshun, a Chinese Korean from Heilongjiang province, north-east China, is in jail in neighbouring Inner Mongolia, charged with helping to smuggle 61 refugees into China. She was arrested at her home in Qingdao. Officials demanded 100,000 yuan (almost £9,000) for her release – a fine her family was unable to pay. Police have threatened to arrest Li’s 26-year-old daughter, Piao Zhengying, on similar charges.

Li’s family are particularly concerned because she has severe hypertension and heart disease. Lawyers believe this case could help draw attention to the plight of North Korean refugees in China, whom the Chinese authorities tend to detain or forcibly repatriate. Pray that Li Mingshun’s case will indeed force China to rethink its currentpolicies on North Korean refugees. Ask God to bless and protect Li in custody.

Source: Intercessors Network

CHINA'S ONE CHILD POLICY BEGINS TO WEAKEN

Urban couples in China's most populous city, Shanghai, will be urged to have two children in steps to relax it's strict one-child policy. "We advocate eligible couples to have two kids because it can help reduce the proportion of the ageing people and alleviate a workforce shortage in the future," Shanghai family planning director Xie Lingli said. China's "one-child" policy, first implemented in 1979, has resulted in 400 million fewer births than would otherwise have occurred.

Source: China Daily

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